Today we announced the final availability of Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 SP2 RC to MSDN and TechNet subscribers.

SP2 RC is an update to Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 that, along with improvements delivered to users via Windows Update and via our hardware and software partners, addresses key feedback from our customers. Below are the improvements we've made in both server and client. For more information on these changes, you may read the Notable Changes document.

Available on both Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008:

  • SP2 adds support for 64-bit central processing unit (CPU) from VIA Technologies, which adds the ID and vendor strings for the new VIA 64-bit CPU.
  • SP2 includes Windows Search 4.0 (previously a separate download).
  • SP2 introduces an improved power management policy that is up to 10% more efficient than the original in some configurations (both on the server and the desktop), and includes the ability to manage these settings via Group Policy.
  • SP2 adds support for UTC timestamps to the exFAT file system, enabling correct file synchronization across time zones
  • SP2 adds the ability to natively record data on to Blu-Ray media
  • SP2 includes drivers for ICCD and CCID smart card readers
  • SP2 increases the authentication options for WebDAV rediretor, enabling Microsoft Office users greater flexibility when authenticating custom applications using the WebDAV redirector

Available only on Windows Vista:

  • SP2 includes the Windows Vista Feature Pack for Wireless (previously a separate download for computers running Windows Vista SP1).  This contains:
  • Bluetooth v2.1 support
  • Windows Connect Now (WCN) updates
  • SP2 updates the RSS feeds sidebar for improved performance and responsiveness.
  • SP2 includes improvements to Windows Media Center (WMC) in content protection for TV.
  • Autotuning Diagnostics in SP2 now interprets current network conditions when implementing Windows scaling. This feature includes full netsh support.
  • SP2 adds a registry key that enables modification of the maximum number of open TCP connections to increase application compatibility.
  • SP2 corrects an issue in Windows Media Player 11 whereby customers who upgraded to WMP 11 lost access rights to previously purchased DRM content.

Available only on Windows Server 2008: 

  • SP2 provides the Hyper-V virtualization environment as a fully integrated feature of Windows Server 2008, including one free daughter OS with Windows Server 2008 Standard, four free licenses with Windows Server 2008 Enterprise and an unlimited number of free licenses with Windows Server 2008 Datacenter.
  • SP2 improves backward compatibility for Terminal server license keys